Amit Shah in Rajya Sabha today, took a first of a kind step in Indian history by announcing that the Indian government has decided to repeal the special autonomous status been granted to Jammu & Kashmir under the 370 article of the constitution. The government has taken upon a decision to divide the state into two union territories – Jammu & Kashmir, which will have a legislature and Ladakh, which will be without a legislature. The President, Ram Nath Kovind formalized this by signing the Constitution (Jammu & Kashmir) order 2019.
Along with decision, Shah will address both the houses in the wake of the current tension prevailing in the valley. This tension was caused after the imposition of Section 144 and house arrest of various political figures such as NCP Chief Omar Abdullah, former chief minister, and PDP leader Mehbooba Mufti and Sajad Lone. All the sources of communication like internet, televisions, and landlines have been shut down in the valley since last night.
This decision from the BJP government has gathered mixed views from all over the country. Some described it as a historical decision while others deemed it as the ‘Darkest day in the Indian democracy’.
Human rights and legal aid organization from Pakistan AGHS took the side of Abdulla and Mufti, saying, “India has violated the mandate of the Kashmiri people and subjected them to the violence unleashed by state.”
Former Minister of External Affairs and BJP senior leader Sushma Swaraj lauded it as a ‘bold decision’ taken by the government.
BJP Rajya Sabha member and former finance minister Arun Jaitley congratulated the prime minister for correcting a ‘historic blunder’ that ‘came in through the back door.
Omar Abdullah, vice-president of National Conference and former Jammu and Kashmir chief minister called the decision ‘shocking’ and stated that this move ‘was a total betrayal’ of the people’s trust in the government.
Shiv Sena leader and current President of Yuva Sena, Aditya Thackery reacted to Centre’s decision by saying that ‘Kashmir now truly a part of India.’
